Political newcomer Paul Pearson and incumbent Patricia Torres McLean won the two contested seats on the Ysleta Independent School District's board.

Pearson, a retired educator, won by 45 votes and will now represent District 5, which covers the Hanks feeder pattern. He beat Cruz Ochoa, a retired senior computer network analyst.

Pearson said he would focus on the district's budget and ensure that teachers and students receive what they need in the classroom.

"It was a very close, nerve-racking night," Pearson said. "Going forward my concern will be about the student test scores and what will be in place and the district's budget."

REPORTER

Alex Hinojosa

In her runoff election, Torres McLean was re-elected to the District 7 seat, which represents the Del Valle feeder pattern. Torres McLean was appointed to the board in November 2010 and ran unopposed during the May 2011 election.

"I attribute the win to the help of the community and those that got the word out for me," Torres McLean said. "I put it in God's hands, and he sent me angels from every direction."

Torres McLean said that now that she remains on the board, she will maintain focus on a district internal audit that will investigate whether the district attempted to cheat the federal accountability system. She will also make sure that the district's maintenance staff is kept on track after a feasibility study was ordered by Superintendent Michael Zolkoski in January and approved by trustees in April. The study will be conducted by Facility Engineering Associates PC, is expected to cost about $36,800.

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Montelongo attributed her loss to dirty campaign tactics from her opponent.

During the early-voting period anonymous fliers were being circulated around the Del Valle area accusing Montelongo, a former trustee, of writing hot checks, having a criminal record, abusing a district credit card, using taxpayer dollars for extensive family vacationing and being dishonest about her educational background.

Montelongo had said the accusations were false and said her criminal records dated back to when she was young.

"I am thankful for those that believed in me," Montelongo said. "I am really disappointed that my opponent and her supporters won by dirty politics."

Montelongo said that she hopes Torres McLean will ensure that every dollar goes into the classroom.

Torres McLean had said that she had heard about the fliers but had nothing to do with them because she was maintaining focus on her campaign.

Now, Pearson and Torres McLean will have to deal with ongoing issues at the district whose superintendent faces scrutiny for overspending, continuing uncertainty on whether Gov. Rick Perry will approve $3.4 billion for education which would affect the district's budget for the 2013-14 school year, and an internal audit ordered by the district to investigate whether administrators attempted to cheat the federal accountability system, like in the El Paso Independent School District.

In April, trustees ordered that an internal investigation be conducted into possible student record manipulations, which have occurred in the El Paso, Canutillo and San Elizario school districts. District officials have long said that no wrongdoing has been found at YISD and the audit is being done to ensure transparency and ease the public's concerns.

Alex Hinojosa may be reached at ahinojosa@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137. Follow her on Twitter @AlxHinojosa